PROPOSED IMPORTANT CHANGES. THE PREMIER'S RESOLUTIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 11

PROPOSED IMPORTANT CHANGES. THE PREMIER'S RESOLUTIONS.

WELLINGTON, August 23. In ihe Houso of Representatives thi.< afternoon the Right Hon. Mr Seddon gave notic-e to inove — That this House resolve*, itself into b Committee of the Whole to deal with th< report of the Royal Commission on Lands, and to consider and determine the follow ing and other matters, so that a bill may be introduced this s&ssion : — 1. That (he present law permitting lea<&£ in perpetuity bs repealed, and that in re spect to leasing land fci the future there be substituted,, in respect to rural lands, £ lease for not less than 50 years or more than 99 years, with the right of renewa. from time to time, on revaluation, for, noi less than 21 years or more than 50 years ; or failing which tenants to have full compensation for improvements — (a) Occupation -with right of purchase ; (bj th.3 present" system of purchase for cash ; (o) and the other existing^ tenures to continue— viz. , village settlements, special settlement associations, improved farm settlements, occupation leases under " The Mining Districts Land Occupation Act,"" 1894," small grazing rani,- and- in respect to small grazing runs - -of Crown lands as provided in "The Land Act,; 1885." Further, that it be a condition , that- in the future all' Crown lauds should be thrown oren, subject to the optional system to lease for occupation with the right of purchase, purchase on cash payment irrespective of whether the Crown land contains minerals or not. That 'in parting with land the State to retain- all mineral rights. 2. That in respect to lessees who now occupy under lease in perpetuity and who have acquired land under The Land Act, I£S2," whether they arc to have "the right to acquire the freehold of their sections at the present market value. 3. That in respect, to lessees who riow - occupy under the tease in perpetuity, and who have acquired lands under "The Land Act; 1892," whether they are to have the right to acquire the freehold of their sections- at 'the .capital valu-s upon which they . originally selected," and upon payment of 1 per oent._ difference between 4- per cent. * and 5 per cent., plus compound interest on 1 per cent, from- the day of selection, or -may the. said "lessee change .the tenure to occupation-, with -right 6i purchase. 4.v Shall lessees under the lease in perpe-tuity-'of lands acquired' under the- Land for Settlements -Act be allowed to acquire the freehold of their sections, and, if so, shall they so - acquire -at the present market- value or at the' original 'value, and subject "to the othor conditions stated in resolutions numbers 2 and -3 hereof. If the lessees allowed to purchase, -the moneys to be expended in the" purchase of other lands for close settlement. 5. That all lessees under the right of purchase option, or lessees under lease - in perpetuity, be permitted, after 10 years' occupancy and fulfilment of conditions to pay off- one moiety of the capital value of their lands in "sums of £10, or any multiple of £10, upon th© 'first day of January and the first day of July in each year, during the currency of th-e said purchasing clause or leases, the rentals being proportionately reduced. 6. Thab should -the right to ' acquire the freehold be granted to lessees under leas© in perpetuity, either under "The Land Act, 1892," cr the Land for Settlements Act, then in such caso the sections and the areas at present held by them shall remain as at present, and that no alteration of boundaries, unless it be for cutting up into smaller areas, shall bo ,made unless done by an act of Parliament passed specially in that behalf. That at all times the owner or a lessee of the owner shall reside on the said section and -Ccraply with the residential conditions as provided under the existing lease in perpetuity, and it shall bs unlawful for the registrar of deeds to register any transfers that contravene this express condition, or, if done, the title thereto shall bi> invalidated. 7. That, in the case of Crown lands the capital value of which does not exceed £1 per acre, the same be dealt with under conditions that previously existed, and which were known as the homestead system. P. Native lands to be classified the same as Crown lands. That greater facilities be granted for individualising- tho titles and exchange ss between Native owners of land. ' and' that the Land for Settlements Act bs applied to surplus land owned by Natives- a.nd that the Native land, like Crown land, be leased for 50 years, with the right of renewal from time to time on revaluation for not less than 21 yeans; and that the law generally in respect to leasing Native lands be amended by extending the period for leasing from 21 to 50 years" and that mouetarv assistance be granted to Native 3 to enable "them to go on their lands, and every, effort be made to settle Natives on their lands. 9. It shall be unlawful for any person or corporation or company holding 5000 acres first-class rural land, or 10.000 acres secondclass rural land, to purchase and acquire the fe*> simple of any more land, or to increase the areas owned. If _ any land in excess of the areas herein limited shall fall in by way of mortgage, or by will, the same may be held foi~ five years. If not disposed of by that time the State to have the right to "acquire the land at the land tax value of such lands, plus 10 per ocnt. It shall be unlawful for the registrar- of deeds to register any transfer of lands to persons, corporations, or companies owning at the time such transfer is sought lands to the extent of the areas hereinbefore mentioned, and if transferred the title thereto shall be invalidated. 10. It shall be unlawful for any person or corporation, individual or company, owning urban or surburban lands to the unimproved value of £50,000, to purchase and acquire the fee simple of any more lands. If any land fall in by way of mortgage, or by will, the same may be held for five years. If after that time the same be not disposed of the State may acquire the said land at the then land tax value. It sha.ll be unlawful for the registrar of deeds to regist/sr any transfer to any person, cor- ; poration, or company owning land to the : value hereinbefore stated, and if dons the title thereto shall bo invalidated. j 11. That the present system of nomi- , naied Land Boards be adhered to, and that j each land district be divided into ridings, ] and a member residing therein and having ' lecal knowledge be appointed a member C-f the board, .and that" there should be at

least one Crown tenant on each Land Board. 12. Cropping restrictions to be relaxed, and Land Boards should have statutory power to relax cropping 1 conditions whenever neoe-sary, and that for over-cropping in lieu of forfeiture the Land Boards to have power to impose a fine. 13. That residence be continuous for six years under any tenure, including land sold j for cash. No residential condition to be enforced until reasonable road access has been provided. 14. That the present ballot system, being tho fairest mode cf determining who shall become the owner when there is more than one applicant, shall continue. The present j system of grouping and second ballot shall ! bo maintained^ and the "grouping of secj tions, with the means required for the sue- ' oessful occupation, be substituted. That a J ballot should be taken for fn-st choice of any section in the group. That married ' men with families shall have preference , and that persons who have in their own i right been tenants of the Crown, or who j parted with the freehold of lands held by j them, shall be ineligible for ballot for three 1 yeaiFS. , 15. That, in respect to tenants occupying j pastoral runs, tenure for at least 21 years , should be favourably considered, and that j a liberal construction as to improvements ! be conceded, and that at intervals during eaoh year some portion of the run should . be kept free from stock, so as to allow the j native grass to recover; and, in respect to lc>ases of small grazing runs at Cheviot, they be pla'csd on tfoo same footing as tenants on Crown lands holding similar tenures. In reply to Mr Massey, Mr Seddon said he hoped to be able to start the debate on the motion on Tuesday next.